There stood Grim, healthy and powerful and...glowing?

"My daughter," he said and took a step forward.

My back collided with the huge wooden column and I felt the ground split under my feet.

Grim advanced again and this shock caught me like a deer in headlights. "I know what you're thinking," he said.

"No. No, you don't," I said more frightened than I thought I was. In anxiety, I covered it with my two blades, putting them between him and I. "Don't come near me, Grim."

"I'm your dad," he said, one hand out as if that calmed me. That may have worked on animals but I was no creature of that kind. I was a monster.

"I can't believe you're tricking me, Grim," I said. I made a strike for his ribs but he jumped to another wooden column, still glowing. "Stay away if you know what's best."

"Calm down, Alice," he said, both palms facing out. "I told him to kill me," he explained.

"What?!" I said in confused frustration.

"I told Grim to kill me," he said.

In desperation, I swung both swords, Grim zipping out of reach each time. His familiar energy kept pulling at my senses but I refused to give in. "Stop messing with me!" I roared, swinging like mad now.

"Alice!" two voices came out of Grim.

He stopped glowing and his feet landed on the same wooden pole as me. I could sense pain hit his forehead and he clutched his head in one hand, blinking back and regaining control. I lowered both my swords, however I kept them ready by my hip. The familiar warm energy was faint now. He spoke, "It's me now, it's Grim."

"Explain. Now," I said coldly. This was beyond freaking me out. This was twisted. This was sick.

This was what my dad told me about.

Then I remembered when Isaac and I were observing Grim in his cell:

I glimpsed at his skin. Blue veins were now prominent, bulging even, and his face was of purple, green and blue—he was bruising. Tired eyes and chapped lips.

"You're looking human," I said.

He looks drained, Isaac's thought had said.

Like his body was fighting something, I had agreed.

"Sometimes I think a part me is already dead," Grim said, darkly.

My fingers touched the bottom of my lip, unable to take my eyes off of him. This was happening. This was actually happening.

"You know that secret power your dad shared—the one for emergencies?" he softly said. I couldn't bring myself to nod. "I refused, believe me Alice, but your dad didn't give me a choice. He considered my condition as an emergency." Any words remained caught in my throat. I knew where this was going. I desperately wanted to rip my ears off or plug out his voice. He kept talking. "As I was turning human, it was making me weak. My body isn't like yours—it couldn't maintain the human cells like you and Isaac. I was dying, Alice. I was willing to accept it too—hell, I was going to tell you. But your dad could tell I was dying before I could."

"He's too good of a man, Alice. He threatened to kill himself if I didn't agree to his deal. He said that he needed someone to protect you and he understood he couldn't always be there for you. But he looked into my soul and realized I would. He knew I would anything for you, risk my life and give you my heart. He made me promise to protect you and I couldn't do that as a dead soul." Grim shook his head and stared at his hands in disbelief. "I don't know what your dad saw in me. He said I was a good man."

"For the transformation to work, my dad had to sacrifice his body for you," I said.

Like his body was fighting something.

"You know how both Jessie's soul and Alice's soul were battling against each other inside of you?" Grim asked. "I needed at least demon blood to keep alive. So your dad gave up his body and put his soul inside of me, giving me his demon parts."

"That's why you were so weak after you murdered him," I said. "Because my dad's soul and your own soul were fighting for control of your body. Like how Jessie and Alice were fighting control of mine."

"I went through the same process as you," he said. "Your dad and I unlocked each other's memories and with acceptance, became one. That way he'll always be with you while I'm always here to protect you."

"My dad used the emergency on you," I said, repeating this all. "Because you needed demon blood to live, my dad sacrificed his body and put his soul inside of you. That way his soul with demon parts and your soul with now human parts, would combine in your body, that way you'll live. With you alive, apparently you'd protect me better than my father. So now you're part Cold Blood, demon, human and Reaper."

"Crazy, I know," he confirmed. Puzzled, he studied my face. "Although, your dad doesn't understand why you haven't."

I frowned. "Haven't what?"

"If Alice and Jessie had become one, then you would be able to be like me." He flickered on his glowing technique, floating again and then switched back to normal, feet landing back down.

"I refuse to use the power," I said, snappily.

"Are you idiots done talking?!" Isaac hollered. We looked down and saw the four eyed dork ripping a leg off a demon.

"Coming!" we sang and looked at each other again.

"You know I'm going to need time to think about all this." I waved my swords around him.

He gave a sad, lopsided smile. "I know. And I'll give you all the time you need."

Needing to end this quick, I gave a steady nod and leaped off the column. He followed as a blur, zipping down as we both hit the deck on two firm feet. Upon impact we were joined by Isaac.

Demon and angel above our heads, devil and warrior by our feet—a slaughter house that we would continue. Bones cracked and poking out of skin.

A white bolt pierced into the grey skies; clouds not the only thing stabbed with sharp ends.

No need for cloning—I was no longer alone. My sides were now forever full of the two people I needed most.

In his beast form, Isaac had the mind of Purge, hands of a werewolf, claws of a griffin, teeth of a vampire and from the waist down; a body of a panther. Speed of beast, strength of demon, rage of monster.

Grim with the glowing energy of a Cold Blood, scythe of the Reaper, bloodlust of a demon.

Me—a crazy fucking bitch.

All in our path would never see the day.

Back to back to back, sword fighting alongside talon and glowing scythe.

We flowed in one motion, bodies dipping and curving around quick silver. Movements fluid. Translucent. Following after one another's attack, a stream of blades and claws running through devil limbs and throats.

Black blood our paint. The ship our canvas. Hand and steel our brush. We the single artist.

We—a single heartbeat.

The Gods screamed in joy, thunder rolling like the laughter in their bellies. Spraying blood across our clothes, two thick boots now rested in our path.

Lord Death lifted his head up, hand tipping his top hat that sat on the mop of orange curls. "Joining the party, are we?" he said, grinning like mad. His purple jacket whipped in the violent winds, gloves stained of a sweet red. His sword rested on his golden belt, matching the golden hoops tinkering by his ears.

A twelve feet long demon slinked in the shadows, its tail a wisp of fur. Tusks were painted in blood, half its body made of grey fur and the other covered in diamond and spade shaped scales. Wings the shape of jagged hearts spread out, taking up twice the size of its body.

Now two stalked behind Lord Death. Then one pounced for Grim with sharp talons. The bright blur and shadow dropped from our gaze, disappearing onto another part of the ship. The second creature took Isaac by surprise, tackling him down and they were both sent over the ship.

Quick as light, I sent a heel to Lord Death's chest and another to his nose, his head whipping back along with the top hat. Orange hair spilled past his cheek, his hat gone and I watched those bleached brows arch in anger. Lightning cracked, and put his face on a spotlight. Like the rest of his devils, his face was carved into a grin, skin forcefully pulled and cut up to keep the smile.

"Now you know we're both monsters," he said.

I screamed and lunged for his stomach. Both of us floated upwards, and we spun, swords out. His grin was forever pressed into my mind. My sword cut raindrops in half as his cut the drops of blood that rained from the slaughter happening in the skies. Flight creatures hit the ocean, freezing water snowing the boat.

There was no Grim. No father. No Jessie. No Alice. No Lord Death. No ticking watch. No time. Nothing but blood, brutal bloody motion.

Metal meeting metal, attacks countered and steel barely kissing skin.

The skies cheered, thunder rolling on the clouds in laughter, the vicious waters rocking higher than the sails.

His sword came down and I hardly had a chance to jump to the side. His blade whistled by my ear before I landed on two solid feet. His arm was a blur and I missed another step.

His blade drove into my chest, coming out the other end. His eyes burned into mine, grin widening. "I find it amusing that you dare challenge me," he sickly cackled. His blade twisted, and I heard my flesh rip, heart burst and it spill over his sword.

I grabbed onto his hand that held the sword and forced it deeper into me. A mix of shock and glee pumped into his smile, making it even bigger. "You must be mad," he laughed.

My lips curled up and I returned it with a wicked grin.

Suddenly his smile dropped and he glanced down at his own chest. My real self was behind him, straddling his back with the sword driven in his dead heart. The clone-Alice who he had stabbed flickered and disappeared, the real-me whispering behind in his ear. I was grinning so hard it hurt. "I am mad, Mr. Hatter. Absolutely bonkers."

I kneed him in the back, sending him to the ground and swiping my sword out of his chest. A beastly spirit was unleashed. My arm thrown back, I crushed my fist down on his skull, knuckles penetrating then cracking the bone into millions of splinters. Blade carving into his lizard eyes and tossed to the side, my claws breaking nailbeds to then scrape out what was left of Lord Death's face. Black blood spilled across the deck, clothing and lips. Claws curved into talons and they, joined with teeth, hacked on warm neck and stomach. Spitting mouthful of throat and slurping on bile. Tearing. Biting. Ripping. Savaging until there was nothing but empty, cracked bones and twitching meat. The storm cried out in triumph, thunder cackling and white lightning cutting the sky in half.

Knees bent and soaked in a sea of black blood, there was a rumble in the pit of my stomach, it bubbling in my throat, and I threw up a beastly scream, it drowning out the pounding rain. My face was to the sky, wet hair shaken out of its bands and dangling back, surrendering myself to the darkness.

It happily accepted me.

The violent rage left the seas, kidnapping the leftover cries of the wounded and leaving with soft rain. Silence descended, drops slowing down as if the curtain of rain fell slowly now, closing the horror show.

My chest lifted and fell. Lifted and fell. Kneeling in the blood puddle.

I sensed the faint glow of Grim behind me and the weak connection of Isaac beside him—hell, even Cameron who was bruised and bloody but alive nonetheless.

I put one foot down and pushed myself off, standing as blood dripped off what was left of my torn shirt and skirt. Slowly, I walked over to the broken steering wheel and plucked off the red trench coat and slipped it on. The soaked leather clung to my skin, it stiffening around my warm body.

I then walked back to whatever was left of Lord Death, boot squishing on the scarce remains of his thigh. I reached for his top hat, it now in my hands. I brushed a hand over the rim, energy flowing from my fingertips and electrifying my bones.

A chuckle rumbled in my chest, and soon, I began laughing. Laughing hard enough to leak tears from my eyes although you couldn't tell with the rain pouring down my cheeks.

I said it to no one in particular but I was sure the people who needed to hear it did.

I spoke, "Alice never let Jessie come close to the soul; they never became one like Grim and my father did. Alice killed Jessie during the attempt." The silence heightened the thrill. "Alice killed Jessie's soul. I was Alice all along." I stared out to Cameron. "Thank you for letting me confront my past. For so long, I didn't know where I was. You helped me find my way."

I placed Lord Death's top hat on my head. "Before, I was as lost as Alice. But now"— I grinned wickedly at the lost demons, angels and beasts below me"—I'm mad as a Hatter." I stepped past Grim and Isaac and towards my people. "Take a good look at your new leader," I told them, my tone stronger as I continued. "My fellow brothers and sisters. All this time I thought I was alone, in the darkest Wonderland as Hell's Personal Purge. While this whole time, your ex master Lord Death has kept a grave secret from you. I am not Hell's Personal Purge. I was never meant to cleanse Hell. Yes, I am still a Purge—and so are you. Friends, we are the Purge. Not Hell's but Earth's. As Hell's creatures, we are seen as monsters who have no control, monsters who have to be purged, and cleansed to get rid of our overpowering anger, wrath, and vengeance. But humans are the real monsters. They put everyone in grave danger, unable to control themselves. We must cleanse them." I grinned and rose both hands up. "We are the Purge."

All the ignorant monsters roared with their own distinct call of triumph.

A hand was placed on my shoulder and I gave a mere side glance. Cameron spoke in a quiet voice. "What about your past, Alice?"

I looked out to my people and the influenced humans who were ready to cause destruction. "History is written in blood. Our future can only be of clean hands."

"But—"

"We need better velocity for survival. I've seen what humans have done to each other and what they are capable of. Jessie has seen all of it, she's felt it, she showed it to Alice—me. Without her, I wouldn't have been stronger. For Jessie's sake, I am thanking you one last time." Any sincerity vanished from my face and took a threatening step towards him. "But if you decide to bring up this topic again, Jessie will not be able to save you."

I turned my back on him and stepped towards the railing. I looked at the uproar across the ships, bloodlust heavy and desperation leaking past any moral sense.

Now the flags were nothing more than grim art, black and tangled on tattered fabric. I cast a look onto the once pure seas, the waters now a big drink for Gods, all to aid their thirst for blood. I could feel they wanted this Purge—they've been waiting.

Isaac and Grim stood along both my sides. Clothes torn, dried blood clinging to their hair and skin. They wore lopsided smiles, exhausted ones but nevertheless, a smile. They had finally surrendered to the darkness and were gratefully accepted—you could feel their dark energy radiating off of them.

"Hey," Isaac said. He had shrunk back to his human form, body parts normal now. "Before we burn all of human civilization to the ground and completely wipe out an entire dominating race, can we do one last thing?"

Grim didn't need a connection to understand and the three of us exchanged grins. Perhaps they were pretty mad too.

Monsters and villains—different words, born with the same curse.

Raised to believe we were the problem. That we were the nightmares in dreams and destroyers of all good.

But the humans were the real killers, they destroyed anything bigger and better than them.

They left nothing but broken pieces. There must be a tide to sweep the broken pieces and leave nothing but a fresh start.

We are the tide.

We are the Purge.

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